Smile

R.Y. We have to start a club. But to be successful, we’ll need famous people to come. That’s okay, because once the club starts, famous people will come, that will take care of itself

A.Y.: You have to be Persian to start a club. Every club in D.C. is run by Persians.

K.T.: Alright, so I’ll become Persian, and you [R.Y.] become famous. Simple.

I love it when a plan comes together.

***

Sick and tired. We’ll keep this one brief.

When I see people, I nod. Very curt, brief, almost imperceptible, but I do make this cursory effort. I acknowledge their presence, and about half the time, they acknowledge mine in return. Fair enough, I could just as easy keep walking or look elsewhere, as I used to do, and still sometimes lapse into.

However, random strangers do smile at me. This coincides with incidences of carrying big bags of penny candy, and yes, they usually receive an invitation for a piece. Ah penny candy, the universal conversation starter. Smile at me, get a toffee. Good deal I’d say.

Here’s the rub: that smile uplifts me. Sure, maybe the uplifting effect is about as significant as taking a step up a staircase. Still, the cumulation could take me to the moon.

Plus, there’s so much horror and pain in our world. You want to change the world? Go right ahead. And good luck to you, I hope you succeed.

You won’t.

For the mass of individuals, you have the best chance of influencing those within two degrees of separation. How did I come by this? Simple: “So, my friend needs help buying a turkey, and since you grow turkeys, I thought you could help.” “Sure, got one in the freezer now.” “So, my cousin’s brother has been trying to find a turkey for christmas, and since you grow turkeys, I thought you could help.” “Sorry, don’t have any left.” Yeah, poor example, but I think you get the idea. The closer you are to that person, the more likely you are to feel some attachment to that person, and the more willing you are to do something.

Let me not deter you from donating money to worthy charities. Hell, if I had the money, I’d be donating also. But, do you really think that your two dollars a month really will go to helping a small child in the Congo? No, your two dollars will fund the charity. They in turn will hire people to go help the small child. And, they may redistribute your money for other needs, such as administrative costs. (Bitterness abounds in this seat.)

The point, as stated Wednesday, is to do what you can. You’re not Superman, and neither am I. We can’t alter the world to best suit our perfect visions, and it’s for the best we do not. However, I can smile at a random stranger, or maybe give a piece of penny candy. This is what I can, this is what I will.

Happy New Year everyone. Be safe, and think of me, not hacking and wheezing, but smiling into the world.